ICONIC HOME 2023

berghoffdesign.com

“The experience of a home should always be dynamic. The dynamism should come from a felt flow, a pouring of nature through the home….Moving through the house should always result in measures of awe, gratitude, and humility, as well as surprise.”

-Homeowner describing their Kendle Design Collaborative home

“Building the finest luxury homes is our job, building trust is our mission.”

Led by Nate and Abby Gossage, Living Stone Builders provides an exceptional experience and that their clients can rely on and trust from inception to completion—and for years to follow.

To the team at Living Stone Builders, there’s no greater joy than to serve the clients they are privileged to build for while creating something unique, luxurious and creative in the neighborhoods and communities in which they work.

SANTOS ROSEWOOD

EXQUISITE QUALITY WOODWORKING FOR LUXURY HOMES

Renee M. Dee Publisher @reneeldee @youriconiclife

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Even Dorothy knew it when she blew into Oz—no matter where you go, “there’s no place like home.”

I’ve always considered my home as my sanctuary and personal nest where the people I love live, my favorite things can be found and my best memories have been made. You probably know me as someone who is super social and a bit of a jet-setter, however, truth be told, a quiet night at home is decadent to me!

THIS SPECIAL ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO THESE WONDROUS, BEAUTIFUL, MAGNIFICENT, SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY, IMPRESSIVE AND ARTISTIC HOMES IN WHICH WE LIVE, AND THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THESE EXTRAORDINARY ESTATES TO LIFE.

It all starts with an expert team of a builder, architect, interior designer, lighting designer and landscape architect. You’ll find the best of the best in this issue, along with so many resources that will help you bring your dream home to reality.

My goal is to make this book a companion to your homebuilding journey. We’ve packed it with engaging editorial on how to design the home of your dreams from the ground up, including significant remodeling, which is happening at a high level right now in our community.

Inside, you’ll find tips, advice and even worksheets to help make the process of designing a custom home a process from groundbreaking to move in. It’s my hope you’ll keep this issue by your side every step of the way.

We are in the middle of one of THE hottest home markets in the country, and the allure of our desert and this community is second-to-none when you look at the number of luxury-loving new residents that are moving here each year.

If you are relocating from somewhere else, welcome to your new home! We hope to be a part of your ICONIC LIFE, right here in Arizona.

With Gratitude,

Renee M. Dee Publisher

Photo by Carrie Evans

HOME SWEET HOME

They say, “home is where the heart is,” and those words ring true to me when I think about my love for Arizona.

I was born in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, and I have had the privilege of calling the 48th state my home for my entire life. From Surprise to Gilbert, Peoria to Ahwatukee, I’ve lived all over Phoenix, enjoying the unique culture, excellent food and natural beauty that each part of the Valley of the Sun has to offer.

This special issue of ICONIC HOME Magazine is filled with tips for creating an ICONIC home, and to me, there is no home more ICONIC than Arizona. From our beautiful sunsets to the proud saguaros, there’s never-ending natural beauty to inspire your home’s design perspective. Plus, luckily for us, Arizona is home to some of the nation’s top interior designers, architects, landscapers and builders, many of whom you’ll see mentioned within these pages.

Kaitlyn Beickel Editor-in-Chief @iconiclifemag

In the pursuit of Living Beautifully, it’s important to regularly look at your home and how it makes you feel. Your sanctuary space should provide you with feelings of calmness, relaxation and, most importantly, joy. When your space is beautiful, you’ll likely feel more inspired and at peace.

A luxurious home is not just a house filled with expensive things. A true luxury is a home that’s centered around beauty. Whatever beauty means to you— whether that’s a bouquet of fresh flowers, elegant tablesettings or a unique lighting feature—there are many ways to emphasize the beauty of your home.

I hope that the stories in this special issue inspire you to think creatively about your home. From how you organize your bookshelf, to the linens you choose for your bed, there are a lot of little touches that can make your home feel luxurious, beautiful and authentic to your life.

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris

All my best,

Kaitlyn Beickel Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Katie Poe

RENEE M. DEE | Publisher

KAITLYN BEICKEL | Editor-in-Chief

CARLYE KLICK | Marketing Director

MEG PERICH | Client Relations Director AZ

DOROTHY COSTELLO | Business Development Director OC

ERIN SUWWAN | Publication Designer

ALLIE WOODARD | Marketing Intern

PAUL MOORE | Features Photographer

DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN | Cover Photography

WERNER SEGARRA | Cover Photography

CONTRIBUTORS Bailey Badillo, Nancy Erdmann, Elyse Glickman, Sam Micatrotto, Fran Miller, Dena Roché , Masada Siegel and Nora Burba Trulsson

Advertising and Editorial Queries, contact us at concierge@iconiclife.com 8145 E. Evans Road, Suite 7 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480.330.3737 Subscribe Now: ICONICLIFE.COM Follow

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A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

Cleverly hidden storage solutions abound as viral social media videos feature luxury living decor.

By Carlye Klick

As many of us turn to social media as a source of inspiration, a vision board for #manifesting or staying on top of the latest trends, the rise of home organization inspiration has been impossible to ignore. The past couple of years have spawned hit organization-themed shows like The Home Edit and Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Dig into some luxury storage that will turn your closet, kitchen pantry or virtually anywhere in your home into an oddly satisfying space worthy of content virality. Or, leave it to the experts and bring in a profes sional home organizer to neatly divide, stack and label all of your items.

POTTERY BARN Closet Drawer Jewelry Storage Collection, $30-$40 each, via Pottery Barn.

WEST ELM Seamless Triple Medicine Cabinet, $1,299 via West Elm.

HORCHOW Star Wine Holder Side Table, $1050 via Horchow.

URBIA 25 Bottle Floor Wine Bottle Rack, $1,170 via Perigold.

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Go Gold FOR THE

Rich metallics and posh design rule today’s home decor.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Go bold with monochromatic all-gold everything for a show stopping style, or choose a gold accent piece for a more subdued sparkle.

London Pierce Home has an ever-changing display of gold-medal worthy home furniture and accessories. As roaring twenties styles are revitalized for the current day, we’re seeing a trend of glimmering gold tones in just about everything.

Photography by Paul Moore

Sophisticated SOUTHWEST

Be the best in the West with chic Western decor.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Michael and Laura Levenberg, the founders of Buffalo Collection—a luxe Western-inspired gallery in Scottsdale— know a thing or two about decor that will make you feel at home in the Sonoran Desert. The duo have curated a collection of fine handcrafted and heirloom-quality bison leather furniture and luxe Western accessories, made in the U. S. and oozing cowboy chic.

Photography by Paul Moore

Bring your kitchen inspiration.

When you walk through our doors, bring an idea. A dream. A vision. Our showroom is designed to inspire you with on-site chefs, product experts, and exclusive events - all so you can fully experience everything your kitchen can be.

True Colors

Kohler’s latest limited-edition release is a tribute to the brand’s 150 years of pioneering color in kitchen and bathroom design.

By Sam Micatrotto

Everyone needs a pop of color in their lives, and the colors that you choose to incorporate in interior design can change the entire vibe of your home. Warm tones like reds, yellows and oranges are energizing, while cool toned blues, greens and purples will create feelings of peace and calm.

Kohler, a 150-year-old, family-owned company known for its innovative designs in kitchen and bathroom products, has a history of incorporating color into its creations.

In the 1960s, the company became synonymous with boldness through its “THE BOLD LOOK OF KOHLER” campaign, which showcased unique shades in a way that inspired self-expression and individuality. To honor this legacy, Kohler is reviving

the 1960s campaign, kicked off with a fan poll on what colors the brand should bring back. In a decision made in response to more than 100,000 votes from fans, Kohler is re-releasing limited-edition heritage colors, Spring Green and Peachblow.

Spring Green is “inspired by the blue-green waters of a cool northern spring, this historic hue from 1927 has modern relevance in kitchens and bathrooms as a standout piece or blended within your design.” Peachblow is an original pastel shade from 1934, “a bold complement to common browns and taupes of the time,” Kohler says.

By revisiting the colorful 1960s and revitalizing it for today’s market, Kohler inspires us all to live our best lives—in color.

Photography courtesy of Kohler

15530 N Greenway Hayden Loop Scottsdale AZ 85260

London Pierce Home is a luxury furniture store launched by Candice Quinn of London Pierce Design and Catherine Crandall (formerly of Abode Fine Living). The store transcends the concept of your typical showroom, becoming a lifestyle destination where clients and customers can immerse themselves in curated design and gain inspiration.

www.londonpiercehome.com

London Pierce Design Show House Event

In a move to reveal their design talents and expertise, London Pierce Design launched their first Show House event in April 2023. The home served as a showcase for the incredible furnishings, art, and accessories from their flagship furniture store London Pierce Home, as well as an opportunity for the team to exemplify their attention to detail and passion for their craft. www.londonpiercedesign.com

REDUCE, REUSE AND RENOVATE

Fine cabinetry saves the world.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

A1,100-pound, two-inch-thick marble countertop surrounded by custom-made cabinets and all of the top appliances is the epitome of a luxury kitchen. But, what happens to those sparkling appliances and meticulously crafted cabinets when multi-million-dollar homes get demolished or remodeled? That’s where Steve Feldman, founder of Renovation Angel, comes in.

“When I think about what happens to the kitchens, I talk about the three D’s,” Feldman says. “It’s the dumpster, which everybody knows about. It’s the devalue, where maybe your real estate agent says, ‘I’ll take that kitchen off your hands for $1,000 or you want to just give it to me’ and the homeowner doesn’t want it to go in the landfill so they say, ‘OK you can have it,’ and the third thing, which nobody talks about, is disappear.”

Feldman first became aware of the waste of high-end kitchens while fundraising for charity after leaving an 18-year career in radio. He found a wealthy donor to support his cause in Greenwich, Connecticut, but

after she lost millions in the 2001 stock market crash, he looked for new donors in her area.

“It’s Greenwich, so her next-door neighbor was the queen of Iran,” Feldman says. “I see a sign in the queen’s driveway that says demolition in progress, so I drive up to this 10,000-square-foot Rockefeller mansion, and it’s gone.”

“That’s when I had the idea to earn the money for charity rather than to ask for it, by selling the kitchens, the fixtures, the appliances and the furniture that would be donated out of demolished mansions,” Feldman says.

A real estate agent heard about Feldman’s idea and shared it with the Greenwich Time newspaper, leading to an article on his idea published in October 2001. Shortly after, he received 36 phone calls from architects, builders, designers and even hedge fund managers, who said he could come to their homes and take pieces.

In turn, the mansion owners receive a tax deduction and free white-glove labor.

WE’RE KIND OF LIKE THE ROBIN HOOD OF THE KITCHEN WORLD, WE TAKE THESE GORGEOUS KITCHENS THAT WOULD END UP IN THE DUMPSTER AND WE MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND OUR LUXURY OUTLET SHIPS NATIONWIDE. –Steve Feldman

“I’m a recovered addict, so we have given money to addiction recovery charities,” Feldman says. “We’ve supported charities that help foster children, educational charities, we’ve done some funding here in Scottsdale for Foothills Animal Rescue, we’ve funded designs for Designs for Dignity in Chicago.”

Interested in getting involved? Visit the Renovation Angel website to see if your kitchen qualifies to be donated.

Photography courtesy of Renovation Angel

Heavy Metal

Elevating the home kitchen to a new level of cool.

By Elyse Glickman

For years, everyone, from homeowners to real estate agents and interior designers, credit the kitchen as the proverbial heart of every home. It's a place for food preparation, informal dining, food storage, office space and a study hall for those with kids.

With so much time spent in the kitchen, veteran interior designer Richard T. Anuskiewicz is a proponent of upgrading and gracefully camouflaging the exteriors of the appliances to stretch the room’s versatility. Anuskiewicz is the creative director for Monogram Designer Collection, which debuted at the 2023 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. Refined metals, materials and customizable elements result in statement-making pieces that finish the kitchen’s look—much in the way fine jewelry enhances the wearer.

“We bring something different to the equation that elevates the look of the kitchen

and responds to what people now expect from their appliances,” Anuskiewicz says.

“We wanted to disrupt the luxury home space with the first-ever custom 96-inch-high refrigeration panels that run floor to ceiling, along with custom hoods and handles allowing consumers to personalize their appliances. Each component is designed with a tailored, refined style and proportions that result in a more personalized kitchen.”

Anuskiewicz notes two different aesthetics, forged from brass and titanium, provide the foundation for an elevated kitchen. The Brass Collection features gold and polished hues rooted in classical architecture that work in traditional or antique decor schemes. The Titanium Collection is a more modern luxury aesthetic based upon “the art of reductionism,” with sleek lines and dark-charcoal muted tones. The accents on the doors for both collections

are crafted from sustainably sourced leather and brass.

“The door panels don’t play a role in energy efficiency of the appliance, as they are affixed to the outside of the refrigerator door,” he details, addressing some clients’ questions about sustainability and the value the upgrades could add to their homes.

“Each piece of the collection is made to order, so there is less waste in the manufacturing process,” he says. “Furthermore, the interior elements of the refrigerator were designed with a sustainable mindset, including metal and glass components instead of plastic, and LED lighting allowing for easy viewing of the contents.

The hardware is wrapped in Greenguard Gold Certified durable leather, which certifies that it meets industry standards for low chemical emissions.”

Photography courtesy of Monogram

Shelf LIFE

By Dena Roché

Photography courtesy of AB Design Elements

What makes a house a home is personalization. Whether you’re a bookworm, art lover or have a collection of hand-crafted baskets you’ve collected while globetrotting, displaying your unique treasures is a way to put your personal stamp on your decor.

“Bookcases and open shelving can be used for art display, books, frames and dishes. They can also be used to divide interior spaces, instead of a wall, offering display and storage for both sides of the divider,” Amy Klosterman, owner and principal designer of AB Design Elements, says.

DESIGNER SECRETS

The key to styling a bookcase that looks like it belongs in the lobby of a five-star hotel—rather than in your old college dorm room—is applying design principles to create an aesthetically pleasing bookcase or shelving unit.

No matter what you’re planning to display, the trick to having a polished look is thinking about balance and composition, so there is flow and cohesion to the space. Gather all the items you want to include so you can see what you’re working with and how they might go together in terms of color, size and shape.

“If you’re using books, have some stacked horizontally and others placed vertically to give you different levels to start your styling,” Klosterman says. “For example, on a stack of horizontal books you can place a plant on top to add some interest.”

With decor items, Klosterman suggests varying the heights of each piece to ensure you’re using vertical space, as well as creating more visual interest. You’ll also want to vary the number of items on each shelf. Placing a single large piece on a shelf next to three smaller items will help keep the bookcase in balance and avoid an overcrowded look.

CURRENT TRENDS

According to designer Bonnie Lewis, owner and principal of Bonnie J. Lewis Design, wood continues to be the most popular shelving material, but the trend is shifting from painted white wood to natural medium to dark tones.

Painted cabinetry and using wallcoverings, accent colors and ribbed textures within the bookcase openings are being used more and more to add interest and depth.

GET CREATIVE

Often, bookcases are used for far more than housing books. In a recent project, Lewis centered her design for a multimedia room around a custom bookcase created to highlight the client’s extensive movie collection.

While open kitchen shelving isn’t a new trend, it continues to gain in popularity as designs skew more towards modern and minimalism. In a recent client design, Klosterman used smoked glass and metal to conceal dishes, as well as to provide a fresh perspective through a mixed use of materials and sheen.

People are also using bookcases to double as coffee bars or speakeasies.

“In a current project we have a steel and glass bookcase that will serve as an enclosed coffee bar, sitting within the long expanse of wood cabinetry in the kitchen—it will graphically break up the cabinetry and offer a focal point for the room,” Klosterman says. “At night, the glow from the lighting within will provide ambient light for the kitchen.”

Today, the only limit to what you want to showcase in your home and how you want to do it is your imagination.

TOTAL TEXTURE

By Bailey Badillo

It all began with a vision of something different—a luxury tile unlike any other. Designer Alfonso Verduzco wanted to create something truly extraordinary, something that would stand out from the competitors.

“I didn’t know that I wanted to design tile at first,” Verduzco says. “Based on my experience with high-end designs around the country, in all these projects the focus is on beautiful kitchens or furniture, but the focus is not the walls. I never saw a tile treatment on a wall that was more than just the tile.”

Photography courtesy of Alfonso Verduzco

High-end designer Alfonso Verduzco’s luxury tile process will have you floored.

And so, he began his quest for the perfect material and processes. Drawing on centuries of traditional tile-making techniques, Verduzco scoured the globe only to discover the finest materials were right at home.

“I knew there was one place about an hour and a half outside Oaxaca City, just

didn’t know where it was,” he says. “I wanted to work with Mexican artisans, because I knew they could get my vision and I wanted to keep traditions alive.”

Originating from Mexico in a small town outside of Oaxaca, Verduzco knew he wanted his work not just to serve high-end design, but represent who he is through modern art. Even though he found the place, it was a long process to create the collection he had in mind—because what he had in mind had never been done before.

“The techniques I sent, they had never seen before. When I show it to people and they grab the tile, they think I’ve never seen that and never would’ve thought of that,” Verduzco says.

After much refinement, Verduzco developed a tile that would eventually win awards. Just what are his unique processes? From the agave thorn to volcanic smoke, these luxury tiles include a rich story, art in its purest form.

“The tiles are very elegant, sophisticated looking, they don’t scream Mexico,” Verduzco says. “But, when I tell the story, my clients begin to understand the art they’re installing in their powder bedroom, entryway. When they truly understand besides getting something so beautiful and elegant, there is a story behind each tile that makes it so special to the client.”

There are currently five luxury tiles in this award-winning collection. Each name is in dialect from his home state and has a meaning for that specific tile.

TSIRI (MAZORCA, OR CORN COB)

After polishing this beautiful tile, it’s hit with a mazorca, a corn cob, for a unique and one-of-a-kind design. When there are many tiles lined up together, it creates a beautiful texture.

XUNAMI (VOLCANIC ROCK)

Oaxaca is home to some of the most famous active volcanoes in the world, such as the Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl. As a result, volcanic rock can be seen in buildings and flooring. These luxury tiles include actual pieces of volcanic rock from Oaxaca, carefully implemented to create a never-before-seen tile.

AKAMBA (AGAVE)

This tile includes actual pieces of the akamba, or agave thorn. It can’t be any agave, however, to achieve the right texture and design, these plants have to age 10-15 years first.

CHURI (DARKNESS)

This might be the most minimalist design within the collection, but the process to achieve this look is far from simple. Rather than being painted, this clay has smoke transfused into it from an underground fire pit until it is fully blackened, then polished and refined.

CHIPIRI (FIRE)

Inspired by the Churi collection, this tile is coming soon and is about representing everyday objects from childhood. When heading to someone’s home for dinner, there weren’t the typical stoves in homes, but instead, clay pots over fire pits that would get smoke stains over time, from which Verduzco took inspiration. Using the same racota clay, this tile receives bits of transfused smoke from the underground pit to create a work of art.

Ignite the iconic Stellar by Heat & Glo creates extraordinary spaces for unforgettable experiences. Transform any idea design into an iconic experience. Don’t just push the limits, redefine them.

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Pillow

TALK

Photo by Paul Moore, TOWN Scottsdale

By Sam Micatrotto

If you are looking to add a touch of sophistication to your living space without going through the hassle of a labor intensive home decor overhaul, consider the power of throw pillows. With a simple switch up of your pillows, you can transform the look and feel of your room to suit your personal style and create a cozy ambiance. Plus, it’s so easy to do that you can make the swap multiple times per year to match your home mood with the seasons.

CHROMATIC COMFORT

When choosing the right throw pillows for your space, you’ll want to first consider the color scheme of the room you’re styling. If you have a neutral color palette, consider adding a pop of color with bold, bright pillows. Don’t be afraid to mixand-match solids and patterns as well. In fact, in doing this, you can achieve a coordinated yet polished look for your room without appearing overly matched. For rooms that are already quite colorful, you can opt for more muted, complementary colors to tie it all together.

FABRIC FUSION

Experiment with pairing smooth and rough textures or soft and fuzzy ones. Consider incorporating materials such as faux fur, velvet, linen, knitted wool and tassels to add some fun to the room. As long as you stick to your color and pattern scheme, you can have fun exploring different tactile sensations.

THE POWER OF PROPORTIONS

When it comes to throw pillow size, a general rule of thumb is to place larger pillows in the back and smaller in the front to create depth and dimension. This also allows you to showcase the different textures and patterns we previously mentioned. Don’t be afraid to also play around with shapes as you place your pillows. For example, style your sofa with a large square pillow in the back and a smaller, round pillow in the front for the perfect lounge look.

PERFECT PLACEMENT

Depending on which room you’re accessorizing, pillow placement can make or break the overall feeling you’re trying to accomplish. In a living room, you will want to arrange them on a sofa, sectional or armchair for a more casual, welcoming atmosphere. But, in a bedroom, you may be looking for a more layered, cozy vibe.

For a seamless and effortless update to your throw pillows, consider investing in pillow covers that will transform the look of your couch in just minutes.

With a little creativity and some basic styling tips, you can transform your living space into a cozy and inviting oasis.

Plant PERFECTION

Growing a beautiful, sustainable garden in the desert is a breeze with advice from Arizona landscape expert Phil Shearon.

By Carlye Klick

Photography courtesy of Shearon Design Collective, Photography by Kultur Agency

Growing a full, lush garden in the middle of the desert is no easy task. The harsh Sonoran Desert in which we live means that many plant species from other parts of the globe don’t have what it takes to survive. In Arizona, our native climate is amenable to a variety of flora and fauna that flourish in the extreme temperatures and arid atmosphere. Just go for a visit to the Botanical Garden to brush up on the native species that call Arizona home, and learn a bit more about our beautiful state.

There’s something to be said about surrounding yourself with greenery. With all of the recent studies on biophilic design, it’s no secret that being around nature has a positive impact on our mood and psyche. Creating a sanctuary space full of plants is a great way to recharge, relax and even be more productive. So, it’s no surprise that gardening has surged in popularity, offering a sustainable and enjoyable hobby for city-dwellers and desert-dwellers alike.

So, how does one create a beautiful garden in the desert? We looked to local landscape expert, Phil Shearon of Shearon Design Collective, to give us some tips on designing a sustainable outdoor space full of wonderful plant textures and colors.

To start planning your garden, look down! This might be the most obvious place to start, but consider how you want the “base” of the garden to be filled in. Looking for some ground cover? Shearon recommends foxtail ferns, which “spill over and look really soft so you don’t see a lot of rocks or dirt.”

Another great option to consider in Arizona, is strategically using synthetic turf to balance an outdoor space and save on water consumption. If one side of your space is getting a lot more sun than the other, you can have synthetic turf installed just on one side, to create symmetry and cohesion for most of the year. And, of course, this benefits planet Earth too, saving a ton on water usage.

Next, consider separating your garden spaces, whether that is designating seating areas, paths or groupings of different plants. Hedges are a simple and beautiful way to create that separation visually. Shearon suggests Star Jasmine, which is easy to maintain and adds a lot of greenery and an incredible smell in the spring months. Another great option is Dwarf Olive, which has a smaller profile, making it an ideal choice for smaller outdoor spaces; its evergreen nature means that it keeps its leaves year-round.

A garden wouldn’t be a garden without the beautiful eye candy of colorful florals. But, not all flowers thrive in the Arizona sunshine. Iceberg roses are a popular choice in the Valley, known for their fragrant white flowers. These roses have the ability to store water, similar to succulents, and require less water compared to other flowering plants. With their year-round blooming cycle, they thrive in full sun or partial shade, adapting well to varying seasonal conditions. Other pops of color you can add to your desert garden include Wedelia for yellow flowers, Russian Sage for purple flowers and Cape Plumbago for blue flowers. If you want more of the delicate varieties of florals, just place them strategically in the garden, like for example, underneath the shade provided from a larger tree, which can offer a reprieve from the desert sun.

“The first approach is layers. So we want to think about things in terms of lower, mid, high and sometimes extreme highs. Sometimes we have really tall buildings or even 40-year-old trees, we want to think about how we connect everything from top to bottom.

At the same time, we want to bring in some color. You can do this with pots, where you can put different annuals, giving you different colors throughout the seasons,” says Shearon.

This story is sponsored by our friends at Shearon Design Collective.

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GROUNDBREAKING Advice

By ICONIC LIFE

Building the home of your dreams is an incredible experience, and those who are lucky enough to embark on the journey should be well-prepared and armed with the tools of a great team. With more customizable elements, fixtures, finishes and design options than ever before, it’s important to have the best information upon starting the process. So, we asked three custom home-building professionals for their advice on building a luxurious custom estate.

Photography by Jason Williams

“As much as possible, front load all design work and decision making. It allows your construction team the opportunity to pre-purchase key materials, helping avoid disruption from the supply chain. Nationally for the construction industry at large, building costs have gone up approximately 30 percent since the start of the pandemic. Further, Phoenix is one of the hotspots in the country for growth, which adds additional pressure on construction costs, so understanding scope and expectations can help keep unnecessary costs from creeping in.

Along the way, something is going to go wrong—you will do your entire project team and your mental health a favor by choosing to work together with your project team to find a constructive solution. Anything worth having is worth waiting for. In the words of Warren Buffet, ‘No matter how great the talent or efforts, some things just take time.’”

–Jeremy Meek Desert Star Construction

“There’s no substitute for a good team! You need to create and build a solid team—architect, builder, lighting designer, interior designer and landscape architect. With today’s level of design, you need a team that has the resources, experience and knowledge to pull it all together in a well-executed way that is wellplanned and visually harmonized. The materials, finishes, applications and details we are seeing today are highly complex and not standard in the home building industry. You need to execute these flawlessly, and you need a builder with a deep bench of subcontractors who build at that level of sophistication. Relationships are key to success.”

–Gary Fries GS Fries Construction

“So often clients will begin the process with one piece of the puzzle, whereas, if the client selects their entire team early, it can be very advantageous, ultimately saving considerable time and money over the lifetime of the project. Having the team on the same page from inception, contributing their individual thoughts and perspectives on design and methods of construction from day one will result in a much better finished product, and lead to a smoother construction process. Once you’ve chosen your build partners: architect, designer and builder, trust them to execute. Allow the team to navigate the hurdles that are inevitable during any build process, so that you can enjoy watching it come to life in anticipation for move in day! HAVE FUN! Building your dream home can, and should be an exciting, fun process!”

–Nate Gossage Living Stone Builders

Three top builders offer their point of view.

480.665.9108 | www.modernshade.net

ROC#306590 & #329205

TV

Design Meets Technology

From Leon’s custom soundbars handcrafted to match the width of your TV to automated lighting and shading, Monarch is dedicated to making sure that your technology works seamlessly, intuitively, beautifully throughout your entire home. Schedule a consultation at www.mavphx.com or call (480) 590-3048

Horizon soundbar by Leon custom built to match

Photography courtesy of Ownby Home

Curated SOPHISTICATION

By Sam Micatrotto

Located in the heart of Scottsdale, you’ll find Ownby Home, a luxury interior design firm and haven for home decor that is unique and perfectly curated. One of the best ways to experience Ownby Home’s ICONIC work is to visit the stunning showroom, which is a tangible extension of the firm’s design philosophy and features an impressive collection. Each piece in the showroom is curated by Claire Ownby, Founder of Ownby Design, showcasing her elevated style.

Ownby’s Interior Design degree from Arizona State University and Scottsdale Community College combined with her extensive travels have broadened her design perspective and enriched her ability to create unique and captivating spaces. Known for her exceptional attention to detail, Ownby’s designs reflect her meticulous approach to every project. She combines elements of minimalism and lavishness, seamlessly blending clean lines, sophisticated textures and luxurious finishes to craft interiors that are both visually stunning and highly functional.

Her passion for creating extraordinary living spaces continues to drive her work, and she remains dedicated to delivering exceptional design solutions that reflect the individuality and lifestyle of each client. With her keen eye for detail and commitment to excellence, Ownby has established herself as one of the most sought-after designers of luxury residential interiors, leaving an indelible mark on the world of interior design.

Ownby’s reputation has grown steadily over the years, and the firm has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards from prestigious organizations such as ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and the local design community. Their residential designs in both Arizona and the Hawaiian Islands have garnered praise for their elegance, innovation, and ability to exceed client expectations.

And as previously mentioned, her hard work is now even more tangible with the new Ownby Home showroom. The showroom opened in January, and provides the perfect opportunity for customers to experience a carefully curated collection of luxury home decor and custom furnishings firsthand. Ownby’s impeccable taste and keen eye for luxury have resulted in a collection that captures the essence of sophistication making the showroom a mustvisit for anyone looking for luxury decor inspiration for their home. The showroom boasts an array of stunning pieces, from exquisitely upholstered furniture to unique natural accents and beautiful artwork. Design advice is also readily available to all customers, providing them with the guidance needed to transform their space.

“Ownby Home is the perfect haven for design enthusiasts looking for uniquely curated home decor,” Ownby says. “We wanted to curate a luxury showroom experience that embodied the exclusive Ownby signature look. Upon walking into the showroom, expect to see distinct, handpicked pieces from all over the globe, including a collection of handmade pieces from local artisans.”

In addition to being wowed by the luxury that surrounds them, customers can also expect to be transported into a mental state of luxury and refinement as they walk through the doors and smell the Ownby signature scent.

“Our emotions are guided by our sense of smell,” she says. “We set the tone immediately with a custom Ownby signature scent that relaxes and calms, curating the perfect relaxed and refined luxury shopping experience.”

“By visiting our showroom, you’ll have the chance to see our exquisite luxury home decor and custom furnishings up close and personal,” says Ownby. “Plus, with expert design advice at your fingertips, you’ll leave feeling confident and empowered to make your home truly oneof-a-kind.”

Ownby Home’s showroom is a tangible manifestation of a design philosophy on point.

Force OF NATURE

Maria Zambrano’s design brings the zen of nature indoors.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Photography by Scott Sandler and Kendel Green

Maria Zambrano of Maria Z Interiors isn’t afraid of a challenge. When the designer began work on a smallspace project, she knew it was going to provide her with the opportunity to think creatively.

“I always like to start with a challenge,” Zambrano says. “The canvas here is already restricted because it’s a condominium, you don’t have wiggle room to expand. You have to work with the existing footprint.”

The project took place in Scottsdale, within an Optima Kierland condominium. The client wanted to open up the space and make it feel welcoming with nature-inspired elements.

“I wanted to make this place as natural as possible, so we incorporated many natural materials and textures,” she says. “All of the wood cabinetry is exotic wood.”

The custom Paldao wood cabinetry in the kitchen and bar area from Linear Fine Woodworking create a warm and welcoming space. In the primary bedroom and two bathrooms, durable and strong Teak wood cabinetry provide feelings of comfort and zen. All of the flooring is a natural, brushed marble tile.

To add more warmth to the space, Zambrano broke down drywall to put up a recreation of rammed earth. Made of compacted natural raw materials, rammed earth walls have been used in design for thousands of years to add that needed natural texture. Another natural texture in the space is stone found in the bathroom.

“I love the primary bathroom because it has this magnificent quartzite,” Zambrano says. “It looks like branches of trees in the middle of a storm. It has a movement that gives drama and a surreal feel when you see it, it’s like a piece of art but it’s completely natural stone.”

Installing the quartzite was no easy task.

“It was a challenge because you have to bring everything through an elevator, you can’t just walk it in,” she says. “We had to be really creative to do this design, bringing in through the elevator in these big slabs. We created these really cool scenes that look purposeful during the installation, it looks really pretty.”

Another challenge Zambrano faced was adding more storage to the tight space.

“The storage in this place is minimal, so we did all that we could to get more closet space and cabinetry,” she says. “In the primary bedroom, you can see we incorporated drawers and storage. I love the wall covering in that room.”

To help bring nature inside, large windows adorn the condominium, offering stunning views of Scottsdale to enjoy over a morning cup of coffee.

“The office used to be a secondary bedroom, so we had to tear down part of the wall to make the office part of the dining room and great room area, because it’s the best view of the entire place,” Zambrano says. “Linear created a sliding barn door, when you open it up, that door almost disappears into the wall and looks like it is part of the space.”

With large, focal point windows and limiting how much furniture takes up space on the floor, Zambrano made the most of the small space.

“What helps in this type of condominium is opening the space as much as possible, and having the big windows opens it up in an almost endless way,” she says. “You have breathtaking views of the mountains and the sunrise.”

Wondrous WARDROBES

By Kaitlyn Beickel

From the lighting to the shelving, the mirrors to the decor details, so much can be done to make a closet feel like a luxury retreat. We sought out the experts in crafting wondrous wardrobes—eggersmann Studio Scottsdale—to learn all about transforming an ordinary closet into a functional and beautiful space.

“You get your clothing tailored and we do the same thing for the wardrobe itself, so that it’s super one-of-a-kind ,” Brent Hugus, showroom owner of eggersmann, says. “We have a lot of exclusive accessories in our line that clients come to us for. We integrate your jewelry and accessories into the wardrobe, similar to what you would see in a high-end boutique—and everything is tailor-made.”

Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, eggersmann brings luxury German craftsmanship to the area, offering bespoke living and organizational solutions for every room of the home.

“We have the ability to do a lot of custom things with fabric and leather details, the hardware and the lighting,” Hugus says. “Whatever the client might be displaying in their wardrobe we

From the classiest of closets to the most wondrous of wardrobes, a beautiful and functional closet can transform your bedroom.

specify exactly where the lighting is placed, it’s tailored to what they want and need.”

Bringing your soul and interests into your wardrobe, eggersmann offers wardrobes by Schmalenbach Designs, working with clients to personalize the space to make dressing and attire a special occasion.

“We do a lot of custom jewelry inserts that are tailored to the amount of earrings you have,” Hugus says. “We also offer a lot of customization when it comes to hat storage—our clients may collect hats or have a lot of hats from different businesses that they may be a part of. We have a really cool electronic storage piece that spins 360 degrees so that you can have, say, 12 hats on this piece, push the remote and it spins around and you can grab the hat that you want to wear, and it also displays them at the same time.”

Your wardrobe should not only be a display of your favorite clothing and accessories, but should work for you and make your life easier— that’s why eggersmann focuses on both form and function.

“We offer electronic pull-down rods, so you can have storage way up high but not have to worry about reaching it. You access it by a push of a button,” Hugus says.

For the more sentimental or expensive items in your collection that you want to keep safeguarded, protect them with a Bluetooth lock that only you can access.

“We offer electronic Bluetooth locks, so if you want to have a lock on a particular cabinet where you might be afraid of somebody stealing your handbags, you can simply add a Bluetooth lock to that to that particular door,” Hugus says, “You can access the lock from your phone and unlock the door.”

Or, go a step further and install a hidden safe within your wardrobe.

“We offer hidden electronic safes,” Hugus says. “You can have a leather panel raised and lowered in front of a safe so that your valuables are hidden away and no one would ever be able to find them.”

From hidden safes to wine coolers, there’s no end to the customization options when it comes to creating the perfect walk-in wardrobe.

“It’s anything you can imagine, that’s what makes it fun and that’s why people come to us,” Hugus says. “As long as we can draw it, we can do it, which is what makes us unique and what makes us special.”

This story is sponsored by our friends at eggersmann Scottsdale Studio Showroom.

BRISSETTE ARCHITECTS

HIGGINS ARCHITECTS URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES LTD

KENDLE DESIGN COLLABORATIVE

CLINT MILLER ARCHITECT SEVER DESIGN GROUP

SWABACK PARTNERS TSONTAKIS ARCHITECTURE

CHRISTY & COMPANY CRAIG WICKERSHAM

JONES STUDIO

SIRIANO’S STYLISH SINK

By Fran Miller

Photography by Tim Lenz

When world-renowned fashion designer Christian Siriano decided to renovate the primary bathroom in his 279 year-old Easton, Connecticut home, he turned to luxury bath brand DXV for its selection of modern, yet timeless, pieces. Siriano, who studied under designers Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen before launching his own eponymous collection in 2008 and opening his first flagship store in New York City in 2012, knows a thing or two about aesthetics. He was motivated by the DXV’s Belshire Collection’s elegant pieces that pay homage to the Art Deco movement after which they were modeled.

DXV’s exclusively curated portfolio of crafted collections represent unique expressions of heritage, inspired by the most influential design movements of the past 150 years. Each collection reinterprets pivotal design eras of classic, golden, modern and contemporary, fusing design with innovation for results that elevate everyday living.

Siriano, whose accolades include 2016 AAFA American Image Awards “Designer of the Year,” 2016 Couture For A Cause “Designer of the Decade,” and listing on Crain’s “40 Under 40” list, and Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in 2015, selected DXV’s Belshire Collection with the belief that every space within a home deserves glamour. Inspired by architectural New York City ICONS such as the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building and Stella Tower, the Belshire collection pays tribute to the past, celebrates the present and promises the lasting beauty exemplified in these treasured structures.

Before delving into the products, Siriano imagined how he would best use and enjoy the space. He drew inspiration from decades past, such as the 1960s French couture houses, to invoke a feeling of timeless luxury. By mixing modern and traditional bathroom fixtures, he created a dialogue in the room.

Known for his whimsical, show-stopping fantasy evening gowns, fashion designer Christian Siriano trains his aesthetic eye toward interior design.

He chose the Belshire Low Spout Bathroom Faucet, to ensure crisp, clean, structured lines, and he strategically positioned his bathtub to face the window so the view can be enjoyed while taking a soak. The selected the Belshire Shower System for its precision engineering and superior performance. Marble walls add a feeling of organic movement to the small room.

The success of the project led to a DXV/Siriano limited-edition luxury bathrobe and hand towel set collaboration, from which Siriano drew influence from his newly installed Belshire collection to capture the richness and timelessness of the 1920s.

“It has been a pleasure partnering with DXV, which I believe emphasizes the many parallels that can be drawn between fashion and home design as vehicles for self-expression,” Siriano says. “Personalizing clothing and accessories empowers people to reveal their authentic selves, which we also see play out when people curate their living spaces. As I was designing my own space in Easton, DXV’s timeless Belshire bathroom collection inspired me to explore the boundaries of home and fashion to create luxurious, wearable art.”

Woven WONDERS

By Sam Micatrotto

Have you ever looked around your home and felt like something was missing? Maybe your feet are a bit chilly on the bare floor as you walk across the room, or you feel like the decor could use a refresh.

If you’re experiencing these design woes, it’s time to consider adding a rug or other textiles to your space for some added style and texture. We know decorating or redecorating your living space can be a daunting task, particularly when you consider the various factors that come into play.

We also reached out to Kacie Lilley, one of the lead interior designers at K & Q Interiors, to share her expertise on the matter. With her expert advice paired with some other tips, we hope you feel inspired by the time to get to the end of this article.

Whether you’re designing a new space or updating an existing one, incorporating organic textiles can add warmth, texture and a sense of well-being to any room.

SO, WHERE TO BEGIN?

First and foremost, Lilley recommends that you keep it simple. You don’t want to overthink an already potentially involved project, so just start with the basics. Then it’s a good idea to understand your lifestyle and overall needs. Does it need to be functional? Do you just simply want to have an aesthetically pleasing space?

When starting a new project for K & Q Interiors clients, Lilley and her team ask themselves the same questions. “We first consider the lifestyle of the client. Do they prefer to keep things casual? Do they have pets and/or kids? Do they want to impress guests? The answers to these questions start with the direction, and from there we move on to content, color, texture and overall style.”

DURABILITY & CLEANABILITY

When it comes to choosing textiles for a family- or pet-friendly home, durability and ease of care are most likely going to be your top priorities. Look for fabrics that are practical yet stylish that can withstand heavy use and are easy to clean.

“There are so many textiles that are made for cleanability now!” says Lilley.

These added heavy-duty elements help to make your furniture, rugs, curtain and other textiles stain-resistant, moisture-resistant, odor-resistant as well as earth-friendly which can provide that extra assurance for those who want to make their textiles last. But, like with many important purchases, it’s important to do your research. Be sure to understand the fabric’s durability and ability to withstand wear and tear before taking the plunge–no matter how perfectly it fits in with your style.

Lilley also recommends staying away from viscose in area rugs when possible. Viscose rugs are in high demand for their crushed velvet look, but they require careful maintenance. They are not ideal for high-traffic areas, homes with pets or young children. “There are so many look-alike options for just about every look,” Lilley says. “We can typically find the look we want that doesn’t come with the worries.”

GO GREEN

Just like we care about what we’re putting into our bodies, it’s also important to think about the chemicals that surround us that can be just as detrimental. Organic textiles are becoming increasingly popular and important in today’s world. They are made from fibers that are grown without the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers.

These textiles are better for the environment as they promote sustainable farming practices and reduce the amount of pollutants released into the air, water and soil. Conventional textiles are often treated with chemicals such as formaldehyde and flame retardants, which can be harmful to human health.

Organic textiles, on the other hand, are made without these harmful chemicals, making them a safer and healthier option for consumers. Choosing organic textiles is an important step toward promoting sustainability and protecting our health and the environment. “This can truly make an impact on a person’s health and well-being,” Lilley says.

ON TREND

While practicality is important when choosing textiles for your home, we know better than anyone that choosing items that are aesthetically pleasing is the fun part. And while it seems that neutral tones and the minimalistic look has taken over, Lilley says she’s seeing a new trend start to pop up.

“We are seeing less gray and more warm tones. It is nice to have some color back!” She still suggests using warm and cool neutrals as a base to keep a classic look, but adding a pop of color with an area rug, textured blanket or throw pillows really goes a long way.

And as with most trends, what old is new again, and according to Lilley, it seems that peach and pinky tones, rust, brown and salmon hues are back in style. So, if you’re looking to add that pop of color to your home, those might be good colors to start with.

STATE OF THE ART

These four talented artists are making their mark.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

What’s the latest in the world of art and design? Four artists currently making their art mark on the world—Hunt Slonem, David Yarrow, Lin Jingjing and Christopher Jagmin—are sharing their unique creativity and world perspectives.

DAVID YARROW

Getting up close and personal with large and wild animals is not an uncommon occurrence for photographer David Yarrow. Recognized as one of the best-selling photographers in the world, Yarrow’s work is on display in leading galleries and museums across Europe and North America, including in Scottsdale at Relevant Galleries.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1966, Yarrow focuses on large monochromatic black-and-white photography. His work often features a juxtaposition of an unusual animal in an unexpected location—like a wolf-dog sitting in the front seat of a car with model Brooks Nader.

Yarrow began his career as a photographer for The London Times, where he took an ICONIC shot that took him down a trajectory of success. Since the start of his career, his immersive photography has drawn in art collectors from around the world.

HUNT SLONEM

With more than 350 exhibitions at prestigious galleries and museums internationally, Hunt Slonem is well-known for his creative artwork depicting repetitive bunnies, exotic birds, butterflies and florals. Scottsdale is fortunate to have a gallery that continually represents his work—Bonner David Galleries.

Slonem’s artistic flair and love for nature and far-off destinations has been evident since childhood, he was born in 1951 in Kittery, Maine, and then spent his formative years traveling due to his father’s role as an officer in the Navy. Earning his degree in painting and art history from Tulane University in New Orleans, Slonem began his art career in Manhattan, exhibiting pieces around New York City’s explosive contemporary arts scene.

Today, his distinct, neo-expressionist style can be found around the world in the permanent collections of museums, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney, the Miro Foundation and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Drawing inspiration from nature, history and his travels, Slonem continues to create inspiring contemporary works using expressive and highly-textural brushstrokes.

LIN JINGJING

Born in Shanghai, China, Lin Jingjing earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the Fine Art department of Fujian University, studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and earned a master’s degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Jingjing’s artwork explores the connection between social and personal identity in the context of modern society, creating a surreal effect in her artwork with layered painting and mixed media. Her artwork primarily focuses on themes of paradox—confusion and quest, existence and absence, and constraint and resistance—and exploring how people define themselves to the world.

One of her standout artistic styles is the layering of thread over painted canvas to create unique dimension. Showcasing her artwork through performances, installation, painting, mixed media and video, Jingjing’s work has been featured in exhibitions all over the world, including at De Sarthe Gallery.

CHRISTOPHER JAGMIN

Local Arizona artist Christopher Jagmin has pieces on display at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art that blend the lines between anxiety and art.

“I am afraid. I’m afraid for you. I’m afraid for me. I’m afraid for our country, and very anxious about the future,” Jagmin states in his portfolio. “Even though I’m not quite sure what to add to the conversation to help make this a better place to live, I still have hope.”

Focusing on a theme of reflecting humanity in his artwork, Jagmin earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Indiana University’s School of Fine Arts. His work has been on display at many exhibitions around the nation and right here in Arizona, including at the annual Canal Convergence event held in Scottsdale.

Table ON THE

The ICONIC LIFE team invited five of the top designers in Scottsdale together to showcase their talents with tablescapes inspired by entertaining outdoors.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Photography by Paul Moore

Local designers—Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe, Lillian James Design, London Pierce Design, Maria Z Interiors and Ownby Design— brought their unique approach and style to decorate a spring tablescape. Featuring furniture from Brown Jordan in Scottsdale Quarter where the event took place, each designer created and shared a truly luxury bespoke style. Shearon Design Collective adorned the space with incredible greenery.

MARIA Z INTERIORS

About the Designer: Nature is a key element in the Maria Z Interiors design process. Natural light, a beautiful garden, a tree or a view can be considered a piece of art when designing spaces. Led by Maria Zambrano, the firm focuses on designing interior and exterior spaces. Whether a new construction or a remodel, the team will collaborate fully with your architect and builder.

About the Tablescape: “My inspiration for this tablescape came from my last European trip in April,” Maria Zambrano says. “Late lunch on a weekend can be the main meal of the day in any of these European quaint towns. I was reminiscing about a villa in Bordeaux, France, with a covered patio with wisteria hanging down and a beautiful tablescape of fresh citrus scent. All materials presented were natural materials from the napkins all the way to the plates, chargers, napkin holders, etc.”

About the Brown Jordan Table and Chairs:

• Adapt 36" x72" – Keon Top, Mica Finish. $5356

• Walter Lamb Arm Chair – Pebble Rope, Black Jade Finish. $608 each

OWNBY DESIGN

About the Designer: Ownby Design is an award-winning luxury interior design firm located in Scottsdale, with main areas of operation in the greater Phoenix area and the Hawaiian Islands. Following a mission to always deliver a flawless product that is a true reflection of the client’s vision, the firm transforms everyday living spaces into one-of-a-kind indulgences, with a unique fusion of minimalism and lavishness.

About the Tablescape: “Encompassing what the Clase Azul Tequila brand represents, we wanted to create a tequila-tasting tablescape that also embodied the essence of our new luxury retail venture, Ownby Home,” Rachel Stellwagen, project designer, says. “By blending artisanal touches such as the barro negro dinnerwear and hand carved molcajetes, with natural elements such as the woven maize placemats and petrified wood chargers, this tequila tasting would not be complete without a sleek Brown Jordan exterior table to ground it.”

About the Brown Jordan Table and Chairs:

• Adapt 36" x 120" – Fossil Top, Loden Finish. $7625

• H Arm Chairs – Dune Fabric, Abalone Rope. $1627

LONDON PIERCE DESIGN

About the Designer: London Pierce Design is a full-service interior design firm specializing in complete renovations of single-family homes, working directly with real estate developers and homeowners. Founded by Candice Quinn, principal designer, and supported by a team of talented design assistants and an operations manager, the Scottsdale-based firm works with clients in nearby areas throughout the valley, and can travel for certain projects.

About the Tablescape: “When designing this space, I sought to create a dreamy tablescape—one that would transport guests into a magical world, evoking beauty and enchantment,” Candice Quinn says. “I was inspired by nature and elements of the French countryside. My vision was to create an inviting space with a hint of romance by covering the table with flowers. The handmade plates brought in an earthy element and paired well with the florals. The raw alabaster votives placed on the table create a soft glow through the natural alabaster and the soft linens made in France brought in some elegance. The champagne flatware and textured glasses finished it off by creating warmth and texture.”

About the Brown Jordan Table and Chairs:

• Adapt 36" x 96" – Fossil Top, Blush Finish. $7625

• Oscar Bench. $1888

• Parkway Arm Chair. $701 each

• Swim Arm Chair. $872 each

LILLIAN JAMES DESIGN GROUP

About the Designer: Lillian James Design Group is a Scottsdalebased firm with a focus on residential interior design. The designers make certain that a project runs seamlessly, on budget and within clients’ parameters. The firm understands the value of working closely as a team with clients, trades and vendors to create a cohesive project. Design is very personal, and your home should reflect that, so they create each project to express the way you live.

About the Tablescape: “Inspiration for the tablescape came from the idea of dining al fresco at a European hillside villa during early summer,” Sandy Black, principal interior designer, says.

About the Brown Jordan Table and Chairs:

• Oscar 36" x 96" – Fossil Top, Textured Pewter Finish. $7752

• Oscar Armchairs – Frost Fabric, Textured Pewter Finish, Pebble Rope. $1627 each

• Still Cart – Mica Finish. $4493

ICONIC BY KAITLYN WOLFE

About the Designer: Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe is a full-service, award-winning interior design firm and licensed general contractor based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The firm partners with architects and builders to provide luxury interior design services for custom homes and major remodels, ranging from hard surface and fixture selections to interior furnishings and styling.

About the Tablescape: “My inspiration for the tablescape is the Bisti Badlands desert during sunrise, which is a stunning and awe-inspiring natural landscape,” Kaitlyn Wolfe, owner and principal designer, says. “The Badlands are known for their rugged beauty, with intricate formations of clay and sandstone that have been sculpted by the elements over millions of years. At sunrise, the warm glow of the sun illuminates the intricate textures and colors of the desert, creating a magical and unforgettable experience.”

About the Brown Jordan Table and Chairs:

• Oscar 36" x 120" – Keon Top, Bone Finish. $9032

• Oliver Arm/Side Chairs – Dune Fabric, Bone Finish, Peppercorn/Bluff Rope. $1841/$1660 each

If These Walls Could Talk…

Mario Romano is reimaging the wall.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Mario Romano didn’t know at the start of his career that he would totally reimagine the design and build process for walls. Beginning with a job in film before branching out into real estate and construction, creativity and design have remained his main focus.

“During my home building phase, I was looking at a lot of tile and stone walls for showers, and I thought, this process hasn’t been updated in thousands of years,” Romano says. “I’d really like it if you could just branch out and make the design as large as you want, to come out of your shower and wrap around the wall and continue even into another room.”

“I started researching and practicing and then came across this really good material called Corian, which could be bonded and welded together,” he added.

He then began creating beautiful, 3D textured surfaces that were infinitely customizable. After a year of research and testing, MR Walls officially launched, and Romano now offers his carved, puzzle piece surfaces all over the U.S. and internationally.

“We put together some engineers and created a software that actually creates the design, the robotic instructions and the puzzle for the installation, all in one process,” Romano says. “That way, when you render the 3D model, you see the rendering and then we can actually go into production. It’s quoted and it’s ready to be produced, through a process that really bridges the design world from the build world.”

Romano sought out to bridge the gap between creating a beautiful design on the computer and turning it into a real-life solution. To ease the installation process and create a seamless look, Romano creates non-repeating design panels that connect together effortlessly.

“One of the unique things that we’re offering is the ability to be non-repetitive,” Romano says. “We want to be able to have the designs without any limitations, so if you want it to be 100 feet without any repetition, we do that.”

“That’s one of the benefits of the puzzle pieces, the puzzle pieces bond together and then the separation of where one piece starts and stops starts to disappear and then you get this experience, which is very much what we experience in nature. Nature doesn’t have to deal with joints, nature just goes on, there’s no separation. Whether it’s the Grand Canyon or constellations, these massive objects are what we draw inspiration from, whether we’re creative or not.”

“I did it myself first on my own homes and then I saw the reaction from other people that would come to either see the house, or real estate agents, other developers and builders, and they started asking, ‘hey how do we get this,’” Romano says. “And that’s when I really thought, I have something here.”

With installation designed to be straightforward, any general contractors, solid surface fabricators, carpenters or tile or stone contractors can install MR Walls with ease.

“We try to be that blur between design, creation and the importance of installation, really creating a solution,” Romano says. “Designers, architects, builders, developers and homeowners come to us and then we’re able to provide this 3D wall surface solution, whether it’s for showers, exterior walls, accent walls, water feature walls. It’s been great to see people embrace this.”

Taking his 3D carved designs to the next level, Romano recommends backlighting the walls or creating a water feature to emphasize the gorgeous texture.

“I think the backlight is also very fascinating because we’re able to take these surfaces and then we can push illumination through them,” Romano says. “We just finished a couple of projects in Phoenix recently that are very beautiful, really punchy.”

By combining the puzzle pieces, these unique walls only take a fraction of the time that it takes to install classic materials like tile, stone and marble.

IS YOUR HOME SMART?

What was once a futuristic fantasy is now reality—smart homes are making our lives simpler and more fun.

By Sam Micatrotto

Once upon a time, the idea of smart homes and flying cars was a futuristic vision. However, with the rapid advancements in technology, that future is now here. Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular as people seek to simplify their lives and make their homes more convenient. With the help of digital assistants like Amazon Alexa, homeowners can control appliances, thermostats, lights, and other devices remotely using a smartphone, tablet or even their voice–all you need is an internet connection. Homeowners can make opening and closing heavy windows and doors effortless by implementing automation systems with Summit Automation. The possibilities are endless, and with the right devices and digital assistant, we can make our homes smarter and our lives easier.

A HEALTHY HOME IS A HAPPY HOME

As the world of smart homes continues to evolve, so, too, should our expectations of what they can do for us. Delos is one company that is leading the way in creating innovative smart home solutions that go beyond just convenience. Delos is reinventing how living spaces enhance human health by creating environments that nurture well-being with science-backed innovations. Through advanced air purification, water filtration, lighting solutions and enhanced sleep systems, alongside mental health and wellness strategies, Delos is helping transform the entire experience of a healthier home.

For example, Delos has developed the DARWIN Home Wellness Intelligence Network, which uses sensors and machine learning to optimize indoor air quality, lighting and other factors to promote health and wellness. Using proprietary software, wellness algorithms and sensor technologies, DARWIN is designed to help enhance energy, sleep and overall well-being, and reduce indoor contaminants that negatively affect respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, and cognitive health by monitoring and calibrating air, water and light quality. The system has been engineered to integrate seamlessly into existing smart home and smart assistant platforms, or to stand alone in cases where smart home technology is not installed in the home. This technology is a game-changer for home automation, as it can now improve your family’s health by controlling environments.

REMOTE(LY) CONTROL(LED)

Nowadays everything is controlled with an app from your smartphone, so why should your smart home be any different? Crestron Home OS is another tool that can improve various aspects of wellness in a smart home, including sleep, energy, mood, emotional and physical health, by controlling lighting, acoustics, temperature and water quality. But health isn’t its only strength. Crestron Home OS simplifies the complex, makes the monotonous automatic and the tedious quick. With a tap, you can watch content and play video games on any TV, listen to your favorite streaming service or playlist throughout the house, and control every aspect of your Crestron smart home.

It also provides peace of mind for homeowners with continuous system feedback on their mobile device in which you can confirm the status of door locks and alarms, the exact positions of gates and garages, and real-time views of cameras. And if that wasn’t enough, the app allows you to control lighting, shades, pool and spa and virtually anything else.

STAY CONNECTED

Smart home technology is a bit more than fancy bells and whistles, it provides homeowners with convenience, cost savings, and security, or in other words, a well-connected home. Home automation can transform your living space into a smart home. It also helps consumers improve efficiency; instead of leaving the air conditioning on all day, a smart home system can learn behaviors and make sure the house is cooled down by the time homeowners arrive home from work. The same goes for appliances. With a smart irrigation system, the system can learn the homeowner’s schedules and make adjustments as needed. With a single button press, the room’s lights dim, the shades close, the TV turns on, and your movie begins. Smart homes can be set up through wireless or hardwired systems, and devices are connected with each other and can be accessed through one central point, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or game console.

Acoustic Designs Group (ADG), a Scottsdale-based company, offers smart home automation systems that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of your home, from security systems to whole house energy management giving you total control from any room. Talk about the ultimate home upgrade.

WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER (FROM HOME)

The number of people who work from home tripled from 2019 to 2021, according to the US Census Bureau, and this drastic increase of in-home-based workers has also had a direct impact on the development and production of technologies that can help supplement the in-office experiences. Popular remote work tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack and Zoom have helped take working from home from a necessity to the new normal. However, for a more advanced work from home experience, Crestron Flex takes it to the next level. Crestron Flex video conferencing systems bring one consistent Microsoft Teams experience to every space, from small huddle rooms to large boardrooms. With Crestron Flex, you can easily navigate your day with a superior level of options, performance, and onetouch control to join, manage or launch a meeting—talk about a smart home (office).

DESIGNING ARIZONA’S DREAMSCAPE

Uncover the fascinating world where innovation and aesthetics converge as we delve into the minds of three top architects shaping Arizona’s architectural renaissance.

By Sam Micatrotto

Join us as we step into the world where vision meets structure, creativity blends with functionality and design transcends boundaries. ICONIC LIFE Publisher Renee Dee sat down for an episode of ICONIC HOUR with a trio of brilliant Scottsdale-based architects, Mark Candelaria, Brent Kendle and C.P. Drewett to discuss how they got their start, their biggest influences and the current architectural renaissance in our city.

These visionary minds have left an undeniable mark on the landscape as well as Arizona’s architectural scene with unrivaled passion and unwavering commitment. Thanks to their creative visions and meticulous attention to detail, these creators breathe life into spaces. In the realm of home building, architecture truly serves as the foundation and guiding force that sets the stage for turning a house into a home.

Interestingly enough, all three shared the sentiment that architecture discovered them, rather than the other way around, underscoring their inherent passion for the craft. Kendle’s admiration for Frank Lloyd Wright sparked at a young age, igniting a lifelong pursuit of blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to create modern masterpieces.

“When I was about 10 years old, my mother opened a Frank Lloyd Wright book that she had when she was in college and honestly, at about the third or fourth page into that book, I knew what I was going to do,” Kendle says.

Candelaria’s architectural interest blossomed through childhood experiences with LEGO® and Lincoln Logs. As a child, his mother would take him along to look at model homes and he would build replicas of those models once he got home. Fast forward to now and he’s not only the founder and principal of his own firm, Candelaria Design, but also an award-winning architect.

For Drewett, architecture became an integral part of his life during his nomadic upbringing in a military family. With his family relocating frequently, he and his father took on the role of “fix and flipper” and would also build furniture together, which instilled in him a creative mindset and appreciation for intricate details. Drewett is now the owner and president of Drewett Works where he brings his visions to life each day.

“When I was about 10 years old, my mother opened a Frank Lloyd Wright book that she had when she was in college and honestly, at about the third or fourth page into that book, I knew what I was going to do.”

—Brent Kendle, Kendle Design Collaborative

Photography courtesy of Kendle Design Collaborative

And while it can be left unsaid, if you have any one of these three powerhouses on your home project, it’s guaranteed to be breathtaking and awe-inspiring, but there’s a lot more to the architect’s role than a creative mind.

“There’s a myriad of decisions that have to be made [when it comes to a project], and I think that building a custom home can be just overwhelming and intimidating to a lot of people,” Kendle explains. “A good architect is going to help make [the] journey a lot more enjoyable and I think the architect tends to usually also become quarterback of the team.”

Having an architect also means having someone who can collaborate with the designers, builders and landscape architects to make sure the project is as cohesive as possible.

Being architects also demands staying attuned to trends and embracing the evolving architectural landscape. Drewett acknowledges the transformative shift Phoenix has experienced in recent years, transitioning from a developer-driven state to one that values architectural excellence. Kendle reflects on the past, yearning for exceptional architecture that was once scarce in the region.

“I grew up in a military family, we were moving every two years, so I think my father and I were the original ‘fix and flippers.‘ I built furniture, and it was just the little things, whether it was a bookshelf or a sofa, he taught me the art of thinking about the details and it became part of my DNA.”

—C.P. Drewett, Drewett Works

Photography courtesy of Drewett Works

However, with a diverse client base encompassing both locals and out-of-state residents, the architects now find inspiration in new ways. The Phoenix architectural renaissance is in full swing, thanks to the availability of skilled craftsmen and contractors, as Kendle aptly compares it to the Renaissance era, with a wealth of local talent.

In addition to their personal experiences and interests, the trio of architects say they draw inspiration from the unique landscape and climate of Arizona. The abundant sunshine and natural beauty of the desert provide a backdrop for their designs that is unmatched in other parts of the country. From the rugged mountains to the vast expanses of cactus and the ICONIC sunsets, the Arizona landscape offers a wealth of inspiration for their creative visions. By incorporating elements of the environment into their designs, they create homes that are not only stunningly beautiful but also uniquely suited to the region.

In a realm where architecture meets lifestyle, these three have proven themselves to be true visionaries. With every project they undertake, they continue to shape the architectural landscape of Phoenix, leaving a lasting legacy of beauty, innovation and functionality.

”My mom would drag us to model homes, and then I would come home and build it out of my LEGO and Lincoln Logs in this big field behind our house. I'd parcel off the field and sell lots, so, I had the schtick down from a very early age.” —Mark Candelaria

Photography courtesy of Candelaria Design

ICON DESERT OF THE

ARCHITECT Drewett Works, BUILDER Desert Star Construction, INTERIOR DESIGN David Michael Miller Associates, LANDSCAPE Berghoff Design Group, PHOTOGRAPHY Werner Segarra, CABINETRY Linear Fine Woodworking, WINDOWS Hope's Windows, POOL Phoenician Pool

By Nancy Erdmann

Photography by Werner Segarra

Taking inspiration from the 20th-century modernism and essentialist design of architects like Mies van der Rohe, architect C.P. Drewett of Drewett Works crafted a modern desert masterpiece.

Designed as a desert retreat for the homeowners’ family and friends, the estate sits on a 250-acre parcel on the outskirts of Phoenix.

“Because of how overwhelming the site was, my instinct was to solve that with a reduced toolkit. I wanted to compress the material palette…a restrained marriage to a complex site,” Drewett explains. “In my mind, the house was made of four materials—rammed earth walls, wood ceilings, steel fascia and concrete floors.”

In addition to keeping the material palette simple, the custom 70,000-square-foot estate, a five-year project, also had a simple, pod-like composition of four structures—the primary residence, a multi-car garage, a game arcade and an exercise/manager’s suite.

“This was the clients’ first experience building a house. The reality of the spaces they wanted was something that grew organically. We talked about different scenarios, events and occasions just to get to know how they would live in it and use it,” Drewett says.

Designed as a collection of destinations, an unassuming estate is the quintessential expression of clean, modern architecture.

The architect designed a series of spaces so that the homeowners could live easily when it was just the two of them.

“There’s a two-car garage attached to the main house, separate from the main garage. Close to that is a smaller kitchen, which we call the back kitchen, and a pantry,” Drewett says. “And then adjacent to that is a smaller living space which we refer to as ‘the keeping room.’ It’s warm and cozy and not far from the owners’ suite. This segment of the house lives more contained. The spaces are smaller and much more composed.”

For builders Jerry and Jeremy Meek of Desert Star Construction, the defining element of the house—its rammed earth walls—was researched for months. Painstakingly constructed with SIREWALL, they are layered in appearance and extremely durable.

“Any residence built with rammed earth requires extra attention to detail due to its structural permanence,” Jeremy Meek says. “The longevity of this project could last several lifetimes.”

As the architecture began to take shape, the owners tapped the talented interior designer David Michael Miller to join the team. Miller vividly recalls site visits where they tested various rammed earth blends, steel finishes and concrete coatings to find the best mix. “Getting the core materials right, from the outset, was essential to the rest of the project.”

Miller, who also developed aspects of the interior architecture, worked with his team to give the residence a welcoming, luxe feel.

“The house is very much an architectural statement in its own right, so we layered on to that to help it feel comfortable as a home,” he remarks. “The furnishings are clean and modern, yet tactile and natural in finishes.”

Noteworthy amenities include an Olympic-sized swimming pool; a showcase garage with an enviable collection of classic cars; and a wellness center with a fully equipped gym, massage therapy area and Himalayan salt room. In the arcade, ping-pong, billiards, poker tables and shuffleboard offer entertainment, while a bar and wine room encourage gathering.

Outdoors, landscape designer Jeff Berghoff of Berghoff Design Group transformed the grounds, giving the homeowners the desert aesthetic they were looking for. Zenlike water features surrounded by indigenous desert greenery create a serene ambiance, with splashes of color appearing throughout the year. More than a hundred existing saguaros salvaged during construction were expertly replanted. Natural washes left intact and hiking trails forged in the setting allow the homeowners to experience its beauty firsthand.

“I think one of the most exciting landscape features of this estate is the new entry drive. You enter the mile-long road and, along the way, drop into what feels like a slot canyon, then progress up and along a stock pond where dramatic landscape spaces unfold,” Berghoff says. “To the viewer, it feels seamless, as though it’s always been part of the natural beauty of this property.”

When pioneers in their fields have the opportunity to come together on a project of epic size and scope, it’s no surprise that the result would be nothing less than extraordinary. “There is no good architecture without collaboration and a sense of camaraderie,” Drewett remarks. “With these highly talented professionals—David Michael Miller, Jerry and Jeremy Meek, and Jeff Berghoff—something remarkably special happened.”

This ICONIC residence has been chronicled in a beautiful new coffee-table book, STRATA a desert dwelling (Oscar Riera Ojeda Publishers, 2023). Filled with gorgeous imagery, informative text and detailed drawings, STRATA offers insight into what it takes to bring a masterpiece to life.

BUY THE BOOK

DESIGN DECISIONS

By ICONIC LIFE

It’s an enormously exciting time—designing and building or renovating your custom estate. But, oh, so many decisions! In the spirit of enjoying the process, we’ve put together some worksheets to support you and those you are working with to navigate the many choices and opportunities in front of you. Take some time to contemplate what you really want and keep this issue close to you throughout the journey of bringing your new home to reality. Then, build your team of professionals—architect, builder, interior designer, lighting designer and landscape architect. They’ll bring your vision to life using the notes you’re taking right here.

DESIGN DECISIONS WORKSHEETS

INTERIOR

What sort of mood do you want to evoke in your home?

How would you describe how you live? Who will live here?

Think of your favorite place to be outside of your home. (This could be a restaurant, spa, resort, museum, you name it.) What is the vibe that draws you there?

What colors and textures appeal to you? Not sure? Head to your closet and see what shades and materials dominate your wardrobe.

Are there important pieces of furniture or artwork that will establish a motif in your home?

WINDOWS

What types of windows draw you, from aesthetic to function?

Will you install overhangs for the shades? Also, consider whether you’ll invest in tinting or motorized shades.

DOORS AND HARDWARE

Reclaimed wood doors and custom-designed modern veneered doors are just two examples from a wide spectrum of options. Is there a door design that you admire?

What sheen in the hardware?

MOLDINGS AND DOOR FRAMES

As with many of your decisions, your home’s architectural style should guide you toward the right moldings and door frames. Do you want squared, rounded or full wood trim?

WALL AND CEILING FINISHES

From one-of-a-kind paint colors to personalized wallpaper to detailed tile work, your walls and ceiling can help define each room’s function and style. Be sure to keep your home’s architecture in mind when choosing your finishes.

FLOORING

Flooring has to be durable, comfortable and compatible with your home’s design and function. Various materials— hardwood, travertine, terrazzo, carpet, marble, limestone and stained concrete—evoke very different feelings in a room. Don’t forget about sustainable options.

COUNTERTOPS

When selecting countertop finishes, consider all the places they will appear. Where will your favorite materials work best?

What kind of uses will these surfaces have?

CABINETRY

Cabinets appear in just about every room—kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, butler’s pantries, closets, bar areas and home theaters. They can be purely utilitarian, works of art with custom carvings or exotic woods—or a blend of both. Do you want solid wood, veneers or fully integrated cabinetry?

Will you mix and match colors and materials or utilize one style throughout the entire house?

What kinds of special items need storage?

Think about what you need versus what you want. Consider whether you’ll use some of the more luxurious options, like a wine storage unit, cooling drawers in rooms other than the kitchen or a built-in espresso machine. Some people even install a second “dirty” kitchen where prep work and dirty dishes remain out of sight during parties and get-togethers.

CLOSETS

You can include every organizational built-in imaginable in a custom closet. Take an inventory of what you have to assist your designer. For a clean, formal look, your personal items can be hidden behind handcrafted millwork, or you may choose to display anything from shoes to sweaters behind glass-front cabinets and drawers. Do you need tie, belt and shoe racks, folded-shirt drawers, jewelry drawers, safes, mirrors, a stackable washer and dryer or sorted laundry baskets?

PLUMBING FIXTURES

Whether in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room or wet bar, fixtures can turn an ordinary sink into a work of art. This is a great place to pay attention to detail-from designer faucets to artisan carvings, pot-fillers to multiple shower heads. Also, consider how high or low you’d like your sinks and vanities to be, and whether you’re interested in pedestal, above-counter or vessel sinks.

AUDIO/VISUAL

Today’s whole-house automation options and smart offices can make your home’s operation controllable from a single console. Sound contributes to your home’s ambience. Before you reach the framing stage, decide where you’ll want speakers and what you would like automated. Also, plan ahead—wiring for the future will prevent drilling into the walls later, and be sure to hire a professional to do anything beyond the basics.

LIGHTING

Lighting design will add drama and set a mood. Talk to several lighting designers to get a feel for what’s available and what works best for your house. Do you have architectural features, artwork or drapery that you would like to highlight?

How does your lighting work with your lifestyle and circadian rhythms for a healthier home?

BACKSPLASHES AND TUB SURROUNDS

Tub surrounds come in anything from a handpicked slab of granite or limestone to stainless steel to hand-painted tiles. Backsplashes can also hide compartments that store small appliances.

FIREPLACE MATERIALS

Fireplaces are great mediums for creating visual impact, and they can often serve as a focal point for a room or series of rooms. Materials range from masonry to ceramic brick, and patterns can be as simple or ornate as you see fit. Be sure to check out city regulations before building yours.

EXTERIOR PAINT AND EXTERIOR FINISHES

Much like interior finishes, a house’s exterior appearance depends on the structure’s architectural makeup. Antique plaster finishes, mortar washes, reclaimed brick and staining done by artisans can give a building an aged appearance. Contemporary homes may use exposed concrete, and finishes like split-faced masonry, sandblasting, rammed-earth or plaster. What does the architecture dictate?

ROOF

Cement and clay tiles have long life spans, so make sure you like what you select. Other roofing materials include slate, wood shingles, concrete or metal.

FRONT DOOR

A front door’s more than just an architectural detail, it’s a port of entry that welcomes your family and friends into your home. What have you seen that you love?

GARAGE

Today’s garages go from functional to fabulous—how many vehicles do you have and are you parking them or displaying them like artwork?

How much storage space is needed?

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Arizona is a celebration of indoor-outdoor living. There are so many opportunities in the outdoor spaces of your home, and a landscape architect will help you space plan and create the outdoor lifestyle you desire from cooking to entertaining to playing to relaxing spaces. Additionally, your landscape architect will imagine your pool design and amenities to make it a seamless outdoor expression of what you love and increase the curb appeal of your home.

POOL AND SPA

What amenities do you want to see in your pool?

Beach vibes, swim-up bar or lap-swimming?

BACKYARD AMENITIES

Do you dine outside? Do you entertain? Do you grill?

If you have children, what kinds of outdoor amenities would they enjoy?

Do you play lawn games? Do you garden? How do you spend quiet time outdoors?

Will golf, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball or bocce be a part of the experience?

SINGULAR SILVERLEAF

At this North Scottsdale enclave, a new estate rises above.

By Nora Burba Trulsson

Photography by Douglas Friedman

ARCHITECT Dale Gardon

BUILDER Salcito Custom Homes

INTERIOR DESIGN Rebecca Salcito

PHOTOGRAPHY Douglas Friedman

FLOORING Artitalia Group

Nestled in a saddle between two peaks, this hillside home rises majestically from its rocky site to capture views of Scottsdale, Arizona and the lights of Phoenix in the distance. With its crisp architecture softened by arches and carved stone window surrounds, the residence pays a modern homage to classic Mediterranean styling. Inside, luxe finishes and custom furnishings balance a formal, European sensibility with an easy-breezy desert lifestyle.

The 12,000-square-foot, three-level house is a singular achievement by notable design/build talents—the husband-andwife team of builder Anthony Salcito and interior designer Rebecca Salcito, architect Dale Gardon and landscape designer Jeff

Berghoff—who have collaborated on more than 100 houses over the years.

The project, located in the Silverleaf community of North Scottsdale, began with Anthony Salcito, who in addition to building homes, offers concierge home maintenance services to owners of homes that he built— and those he did not. The latter was the case for a couple who hired him to take care of their spec home, also in the community.

“They bought the home and it really didn’t work for them,” Anthony Salcito recalls. “They decided to build, and found a fiveacre site not far from their old house.”

Both builder and clients were captivated by the lot’s views, and, once Salcito and his construction team mapped out every

rock, swale and ridge on the property, the project commenced.

“The clients wanted a lighter, brighter and more joyous house,” architect Gardon remembers. “The challenge was to surgically insert the house onto the site, which, with its steep drop-offs, only had about an acre of buildable land.”

Taking his cue from the Silverleaf community’s Mediterranean architectural traditions, Gardon was able to create a cleaner, more contemporary look by mixing both arched window openings with squaredoff forms, using dark, flat concrete tiles for the roof rather than curving red clay pieces and specifying walls of smooth taupe stucco, accented by squared-off stone details.

“This house marks an evolution for Silverleaf’s architecture,” Gardon notes. “It’s less fussy than typical Mediterranean design. I believe that it’s a modern interpretation of traditional estate architecture.”

Rising from a rubble stone plinth, the home seems rooted in the surrounding desert, with a main level encompassing the kitchen, great room, primary bedroom and view-grabbing bedrooms, while the lower level, which includes two guest bedrooms, opens onto the pool patio. An office with miles of views sits atop the primary bedroom.

“The great thing about this house was that we were able to include specific spaces for the clients—a music room, a place to do crafts and his-and-her offices—and still keep the open floor plan,” Anthony Salcito says. “By placing the house on a northeastsouthwest axis, we were also able to keep the primary rooms filled with natural light all day long.”

Interior designer Rebecca Salcito developed an instant rapport with the clients, who trusted her instincts and decisions to make the home’s living spaces as magnificent as the site and architecture. “The project started with marble slabs we found, which we used for the kitchen,” Rebecca Salcito explains. “That set the color scheme of caramel, white and black. We also incorporated green and yellow gold into the mix.”

The theme was elegance, and Rebecca created a backdrop of European white oak flooring and walls adorned with Italian plaster, handcrafted wall coverings and detailed millwork. Carved marble fireplace surrounds from London add a stately touch, as do classic moldings, all juxtaposed with sleek, minimalist lacquer and anodized bronze kitchen cabinetry from Bulthaup. Lush furnishings with European sensibility anchor the rooms, while Alpaca wool draperies cool windows from the desert sun. “The clients were used to a traditional look,” Rebecca Salcito says, “but we broke away from that with transitional pieces in luxurious finishes.”

Eye-catching moments abound throughout the house. In the foyer, a gold-leaf papermaché chandelier illuminates Artitalia Group flooring that bears a petal motif, done with marble, bronze and oak. The glass-rail staircase that links all three floors winds past a clear wine cabinet, crafted as a focal point and backdrop for a grand piano. Off the primary bedroom, the spa is set in a partially enclosed alcove, its arched windows offering desert views from within the soothing cauldron of swirling water.

While the home is filled with dramatic interior spaces, it does live indoors to out, with covered balconies, a long stretch of pool that seems to hang above the desert floor and motorized window walls that open up to allow breezes and flow. Landscape designer Berghoff left most of the site as untouched Sonoran Desert, but added civilized elements in the form of two lawn areas that link the pool with the home’s main level, crisply edged in shrubs and small trees. He also softened the motor court at the home’s entry with more trees and arid-region plantings that speak of Mediterranean climates.

Completed in 2021, the home is a pinnacle in the design/build team’s collaborations.

“This is one of the most special houses we have ever done,”Anthony Salcito says, summarizing the project. “It’s so personal for the clients, and, for us, it’s truly a testament to when a client trusts the team’s knowledge of design, right down to the details.”

GOOD THINGS COME IN

Small Packages

In Phoenix, Jeff Berghoff and Mark Candelaria craft a Modernist jewel box on a tight lot.

By Nora Burba Trulsson

Photography by Julianne McKay

On a leafy street in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, a rustic wood door serves as a portal to a secret world—an airy, minimalist, light-filled house that embraces a carefully plotted landscape, shaded by sycamore trees and given structure through cactus and agaves.

This new, two-story, 4,000-square-foot house is the latest collaboration between Scottsdale, Arizona architect Mark Candelaria and Phoenix landscape designer Jeff Berghoff, who are both well-known for creating luxe estate homes and gardens that are detailed homages to traditional and European designs. This project was a chance for them to flex their Modernist muscles—on a tight urban-suburban lot.

Mark Candelaria of Candelaria Design, BUILDER Vista General, INTERIOR DESIGN David Michael Miller, LANDSCAPE Jeff Berghoff of Berghoff Design Group, PHOTOGRAPHY Julianne McKay

“Their previous home was more of a traditional cottage style,” he notes. “They wanted something different, something modern, simple and desert-centric.”

The site they chose was a relatively small property—less than a quarter acre—occupied by an old house that was demolished, and set between two streets. For Candelaria and Berghoff, getting all of the clients’ programming needs, which included two garages, a pool, outdoor patios and a generous stretch of lawn, was like putting together a puzzle.

“The integration of the house and the landscape was important,” Candelaria says, “so we actually cut out pieces of cardboard for the house and its rooms, the garages, pool and the patios, then moved them around a site plan to make it all work. It was actually a pretty fast process.”

The design team placed two garages toward the quieter residential street, providing privacy, and connected the two small structures with a portal that opens up onto the front garden. The T-shaped house was pushed back on the lot, closer to the busier street on the opposite side, leaving enough room along the sides for a metal canopy-covered outdoor dining and grill area, as well as a pool.

Working with builder Vista General, Candelaria designed the home to have steeply pitched, dark-hued roof forms, smooth gray stucco walls and glass walls that open onto garden spaces or frame landscape views.

“This is a modern farmhouse without being a farmhouse,” Candelaria quips, “and it was all designed to engage with the garden.”

Berghoff worked his magic on the site, connecting the street-side entry to the front door with a series of white concrete pavers, a pathway interspersed with rubble stonefilled gaps. A steel-edged lawn cools the setting, but is rimmed with native grasses, cactus and agaves. An outdoor fireplace, crafted of lime-washed slump block, echoes the neighborhood’s original building materials and doubles as a wall along one side of the garden. Slump block was also used as the back wall, with a bit of space behind for citrus trees, creating a barrier to the sounds of the busier street at the far side of the property. The pool, tucked into a corner, was surfaced with a mother-of-pearl-style tile for a bit of sparkle.

“I planted the sycamores around the house for verticality to match the height of the house,” Berghoff says. “When you’re on the second floor, looking out from the bedrooms, you feel like you’re in a treehouse.” Another Berghoff touch was using pea gravel to cover the roof of the canopy that provides shade for the grill and outdoor dining space. “You can see that roof from upstairs,” he says. “I wanted it to look finished.”

Inside, the house is pared down and simple. A sculptural staircase anchors the entry and is visible through the glass walls at the front door and the second-floor landing. Pale wood floors underscore the furnishings, a mix of modern and traditional. The owners, who had worked with Scottsdale interior designer David Michael Miller on their previous house, brought some of their antiques and traditional pieces to the new setting and wove in furniture that speaks of modern design.

In the great room, a streamlined Florence Knoll sofa shares space with a tufted leather ottoman and an heirloom grand piano, while a flock of Eames molded fiberglass chairs surround the wood dining table. For the TV room, the owners added Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaise and a Saarinen Womb Chair to mingle with a curvaceous traditional settee. Even with lightgrabbing windows, the home has plenty of wall space for modern art and a photography collection, which includes an image shot by Berghoff, an avid photographer.

Recently completed, the house allows the family to live outdoors as much as in, without sacrificing privacy in the tightly knit neighborhood. It also contains all the bells and whistles of an estate, in a small jewel box. Pointing to a local nearby landmark, Berghoff says, “Look, you can even see Camelback Mountain from the house.”

BED AND BREAKFAST

By Sam Micatrotto

Breakfast in bed is a luxurious and indulgent way to start any day. It’s the perfect opportunity to show someone you care, or to get the feel of room service in a 5-star hotel room without leaving the comfort of your own sheets—especially if your bed is hand-painted by Artisans of Alfonso Marina with luxurious Belgian Linen bedding by Libeco and Portugal-made cotton sateen by Bovi.

When it comes to breakfast in bed, the possibilities are endless. You can opt for classic favorites like fluffy pancakes and eggs cooked to perfection, or venture into more elaborate

culinary creations such as lobster muffins accompanied by a delicately poached egg top with a touch of caviar.

Regardless of which dish you’re in the mood for, elevate the luxury of your morning meal by enjoying it on a stunning Italian-made silver tea set. The unmatched craftsmanship of the MATCH tea set adds an air of elegance to every bite and sip. To make it even more special, each piece can be engraved with a monogram, message or significant date, ensuring a truly personalized touch.

Whether you want to leave your mark on these exquisite pieces or present them as a cherished gift to someone who shares an

appreciation for the joys of breakfast in bed, The Collector’s House, a luxe boutique in Scottsdale, is your destination for acquiring these essential elements of indulgence. Here, luxury and artistry intertwine, allowing you to create unforgettable mornings filled with sophistication and delight.

No matter how you choose to enjoy your breakfast in bed, remember that it’s a moment of pure luxury and relaxation, where the worries of the world can be set aside and pure enjoyment takes center stage. Treat yourself or someone special to the joy of breakfast in bed, and savor the extraordinary moments that arise when luxury and indulgence intertwine.

Photography by Paul Moore

Unwind and indulge in the ultimate morning escape.

By visually isolating individual specimens, I pay homage to botanical illustrations of the past, yet deliver a modern and unique photographic vision of plants as living sculpture. From afar the images appear minimalistic, but on closer inspection layers of complexity and beguiling detail are revealed.

By visually isolating individual specimens, I pay homage to botanical illustrations of the past, yet deliver a modern and unique photographic vision of plants as living sculpture. From afar the images appear minimalistic, but on closer inspection layers of complexity and beguiling detail are revealed.

By visually isolating individual specimens, I pay homage to botanical illustrations of the past, yet deliver a modern and unique photographic vision of plants as living sculpture. From afar the images appear minimalistic, but on closer inspection layers of complexity and beguiling detail are revealed.

By visually isolating individual specimens, I pay homage to botanical illustrations of the past, yet deliver a modern and unique photographic vision of plants as living sculpture. From afar the images appear minimalistic, but on closer inspection layers of complexity and beguiling detail are revealed.

- Kurt Geisler, Artist

- Kurt Geisler, Artist

- Kurt Geisler, Artist

- Kurt Geisler, Artist

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480.949.2701

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